Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Getting There:
The museum is a steep, uphill-but-doable 20-minute walk from St-
Paul-de-Vence and the bus stop. Signs indicate the way (parking is usually available at the
upper lot). From the lower lot, signed
Parking Conseille
, a shortcut on a steep, dirt path
through the trees leads directly to the green gate in front of the ticket booth.
Visiting the Museum:
The founder, Aimé Maeght, long envisioned the perfect ex-
hibition space for the artists he supported and befriended as an art dealer. He purchased
this arid hilltop, planted more than 35,000 plants, and hired an architect (José Luis Sert)
with the same vision.
A sweeping lawn laced with amusing sculptures and bending pine trees greets vis-
itors. On the right, a chapel designed by Georges Braque—in memory of the Maeghts'
young son, who died of leukemia—features a moving purple stained-glass work over
the altar. The unusual museum building is purposefully low profile, to let its world-class
modern-art collection take center stage. Works by Fernand Léger, Joan Miró, Alexander
Calder, Georges Braque, and Marc Chagall are thoughtfully arranged in well-lit rooms.
The backyard of the museum has views, a Gaudí-esque sculpture labyrinth by Miró, and
a courtyard filled with the wispy works of Alberto Giacometti. The only permanent col-
